Today, Assemblyman Phil Palmesano (R,C,I-Corning) expressed disappointment regarding the governor’s decision to veto The Farm to Food Bank bill, legislation which would incentivize farmers to donate nutritious products to food banks and other emergency programs.

“It is extremely frustrating that the governor would use his veto power to block a bill that would’ve helped low-income families access wholesome agricultural products while providing valuable incentives to farmers across our state. The Farm to Food Bank bill would have been a win-win for everyone. It was a win for emergency food pantries and other food security programs, for the hungry families who rely on them and for farmers who are struggling to make ends meet and keep their neighbors employed,” said Palmesano.

Palmesano saw the bill as a critical way to help families in need, as well as struggling family farmers in New York

“After a session in which the governor pushed job-killing labor costs and crippling new mandates on family farms, I knew how important it was to pass legislation to help them make ends meet and help preserve their family farms. The governor’s veto sends the wrong message to an agricultural community that continues to struggle under increasing costs and regulations. The Farm to Food Bank bill would have provided much needed relief to our family farmers while providing desperately needed agricultural products to our food banks and families across our state,” said Palmesano.

This bill, sponsored by Assemblyman Francisco Moya (D-Queens) and Palmesano, passed unanimously in both houses of the legislature earlier this year. In September, during their upstate exchange visit, Palmesano was joined by Assemblyman Moya and Assemblyman Marcos Crespo (D-Bronx) as they visited and toured the Food Bank of The Southern Tier. In conjunction with Hunger Action Awareness Month, the legislators held a press conference there with representatives from the Food Bank and Farm Bureau urging the governor to sign this important and common-sense legislation.

According to Palmesano, New York farmers face some real and challenging barriers to donating their agricultural product that is going to waste, which could be going to our local food banks. This legislation would have provided a credit of twenty-five percent of the wholesale cost of the taxpayer’s qualified donations, up to five thousand dollars.

“The real, and now increasing, costs of labor and the expense to package and transport agricultural products are simply too expensive of a barrier for the family farmer to overcome. This tax credit would have helped our farmers recover some of their expenses so that a food donation does not create such a great expense for the farmer. This legislation would have removed part of the barrier and encouraged more food donations, which would have helped our local food banks and, therefore, our low-income and hungry families all across the state,” added Palmesano.

“I urge Assembly Speaker Heastie and Senate Majority Leader Flanagan to reconvene session so we can override the governor’s misguided veto of this important and common-sense legislation,” said Palmesano.